CHORUS – Smarter Mobility for European Cities

Project Objectives

The main goal of the CHORUS project is to create a unified, multi-actor orchestration framework that improves the safety and efficiency of the road transport system. Key objectives include:

• Integrating various transport modes, such as public transport, ride-sharing, and cycling, enabling the coexistence of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and conventional vehicles. The project also considers urban mobility on sidewalks.
• Creating AI-based traffic systems that allow for secure and real-time data exchange to support decision-making.
• Improving the user experience with personalized travel recommendations and real-time updates.
• Promoting innovation through collaboration between the public and private sectors.
• Assisting cities in reducing traffic congestion and related costs, which contributes to European sustainability and climate goals.

Duration, Partners, and Funding

• The project’s duration is from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028.
• There are a total of 36 partners from nine different countries, consisting mainly of companies, research institutions, and public bodies. The project is coordinated by the ICCS, a research organization at the National Technical University of Athens. Cooperation partners in Helsinki are: the City of Helsinki, Forum Virium Helsinki Oy, Swarco Italia Srl, the Blindsquare app (Mipsoft oy), and Coco robotics (Coco Finland Oy).
• The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program, and the Swiss partners are funded by the Swiss government’s funding program (SERI). The total project budget is €6,787,528.75, of which Forum Virium Helsinki’s share is €280,437.50.

Forum Virium Helsinki’s Role

Forum Virium Helsinki participates extensively in various project phases, such as strategic planning, architectural framework development, user-driven applications, real-life demonstrations, impact assessment, and stakeholder engagement. In the Helsinki demonstration, Forum Virium Helsinki facilitates different pilots and compiles the results.

Benefits for the City of Helsinki

The Helsinki demonstration focuses on the collaboration between smart urban logistics and services for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs). The goal is to enhance user safety and navigation. A key part of this is the use of Coco robotics’ Wolt delivery robots, which utilize traffic control solutions developed by SWARCO and the Blindsquare navigation app for the visually impaired.

Through this cooperation, Helsinki gains new tools to map and develop the safety and traffic flow of sidewalks and bike paths, especially in a situation where various autonomous delivery robots also use the same urban space. Based on this information, regulations can also be developed to ensure that all users can operate safely on the same streets even as the number of users grows.

Sustainability

The project promotes environmental sustainability by reducing CO2 and particulate emissions in urban traffic. CHORUS aims to optimize traffic and logistics with smart systems, which improves air quality and reduces noise in cities. The goal is to achieve up to a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions in urban logistics and a 20% reduction in noise.

One of the central ethical principles of the CHORUS project is equality. The project aims to promote inclusivity by developing technologies and services that are accessible to everyone. The Helsinki demonstration specifically focuses on the safety and mobility of pedestrians, including the blind and visually impaired. The goal is to improve their safety experience and mobility accessibility by up to 70%. This is achieved by utilizing Mipsoft’s Blindsquare app, which provides navigation assistance and real-time traffic information to the visually impaired. SWARCO’s C-ITS systems also share information about traffic lights with pedestrians and cyclists, which improves their safety at intersections.

Project Channels

• Project website
• LinkedIn

Photo: Maija Astikainen